" Spiders? Dear me I had no clie that we had spiders in ths tower. Although I doubt that the master would leave the tower in such disarray. Perhaps something has prevented the steward from his duties. I have no idea, my domain is this room. " The voice answers Argon's question.
"Hmmm, looks like we are searching then," Ssilax says after taking another drink of his coffee before replacing the top of the travel mug. "This would be a bit easier to drink from if I had lips." The dragonkin comments to Dog, whom cocks his head and looks up at Ssilax.
no other useful information can be gleaned from the unseen spirit that is in charge of this room which, normally unseen servants aren't alive so to speak, it would appear that Dainoth had a grander idea for his spells. Still it would seem that Dainoth made sure to have another place to hide or to lead those that were searching for him, into a possible trap if there was an guardian spirit watching over the tower.
Everyone in the party gets the sense that this unseen servant is being more up front with them, as if the magic recognize the members of the party as 'allies' it would seem that Dainoth had plans within plans. Setting those thoughts to the side for the moment, the group has a few other rooms to search through, and possibly a few people to save. Which way does the group wish to go now? that is the question.
" I vote we clear each room on this floor and then head towards the basement, or clear this floor and then head up stairs. " Dax says to the others
"Let's do this floor, then clear the basement, then go upwards. If the portals is in the basement and has been corrupted by a devil, I would rather deal with that first," the dragonkin says after another drink of his coffee.
With that being said, the party leaves the rather furnished feasting hall, and start moving towards the north to find another door that is in ruins. Something has bashed down the door and there is some dim illumination from the door itself and what the group makes notice of the sheer amount of cobwebs in the room.
Everyone in the group hears some skittering and looking around inside of the room, you see a spider on the ceiling, currently chewing on something that is wrapped up in a web.
Argon keeps his eyes open as they all search the floor.
Soon enough, they spot a spider and some webs. He draws his falcata and looks around for other possible bodies and/or living victims.
Argon manages to make out a number of small shapes and is startled to see that there are a number of spider swarms in the webs themselves crawling around a number of webbed shapes, feeding. Everyone in the group hears and sees a husk of a webbed form drop to the ground as an empty bag of humanoid flesh can be observed between the web strands.
With a start the entire party has an understanding on how these things feed, and Ssilax remembers that the animals were cocooned weakened by poison and passed out, it would seem that the spider's venom makes their prey weak and sucks out all of the fluids of the cocooned prey, their venom works on dissolving the internal organs, allowing the spiders to feed and lay their eggs in the body at the same time.
"Ugh. Time for some cleaning. I think this time we need to do it the hard way, as there could be people still living in there..."
Argon studies the spiders (studied targets), starting with the three most to the left. He puts his falcata back in its sheath.
He stays out of the room and casts a few magicks to help him out as he prepares to kill off the spiders. Before moving into the room he plans to let his boots give him Speed (Haste).
Spells:
Weapon of Awe on his Falcata and on his Shield spike
Geniekind (Shaitan) on himself
Status:
AC 37
HP: 180/(168+12)
Mana: 64/73
Domain Mana: 14/21
Weapon of Awe (+2 dam, both weapons)
Geniekind (Shaitan) (+2 sv. vs paralysis, sleep, poison, stun; +4 enh to natural armor, +2 CON)
"Agreed. Plus, being indoors is not the greatest place for uncontrolled explosions or burst if flames," Ssilax says, gathering his magical powers and shaping spells. "I am really, strongly disliking spiders right now."
" Aye, I'm not a fan of spiders in the normal sense, these ones are just creepy to say the least... and big ones as well. " Daxniss says as well, frowning as her ideas for taking care of the spiders is slightly foiled by Argon, she shrugs and targets one of the swarms with Ice storm, sense they were on the ceiling there was less chance of the spell hitting her friends.
DESCRIPTION
Great magical hailstones pound down upon casting this spell, dealing 3d6 points of bludgeoning damage and 2d6 points of cold damage to every creature in the area. This damage only occurs once, when the spell is cast. For the remaining duration of the spell, heavy snow and sleet rains down in the area. Creatures inside this area take a -4 penalty on Perception skill checks and the entire area is treated as difficult terrain. At the end of the duration, the snow and hail disappear, leaving no after-effects (other than the damage dealt).
Saving throw: none, Spell Reistence: yes
Daxniss SR check
damage from Ice storm:
Yes these spiders do have an SR :)
Everyone makes note that Daxniss spell sputtered for a moment as if the spiders were had some ability to resist magics, finally her spell punches through allowing her to take care of one of the swarms of spiders. Every living spider turns towards the doorway and hisses, skittering down their webs and moving toward the door. Argon who is currently leading makes note that once of the spider swarms is now encased in ice, no longer among the living, and the other spiders are now hampered in movement, delaying their ability to attack him.
Seeing the quick moving spiders moving forward, the giant arachnids eating the distance with the scuttling of their numerous legs. The dragonkin really didn't like how fast the monsters moved. Or really anything about them, for that matter.
With a few quick gestures, Ssilax releases the gathered arcane energies. He had seen Dax's magics struggle to take hold on the arachnids and was taking steps to counter it as best he could.
The dragonkin's magic reach out and attempt to slow the spiders down.
Daxniss blows out a sigh and shapes magic to hit some of the spiders that are in front of Argon, wide spread damage would have to be put aside for more precise spells.
Sr check
Damage
" A good natural choke point, if are able too move back I could hit them with a cone of cold " Daxniss says
Argon starts on the side, staying out of his way of the spells as much as he can. He lays into one or more of the spiders after activating his boots (free action) and drawing his falcata and imbuing it with extra magic (+2 more for 5 rounds)
RH:
Attack: +12 +6(str) +3(mag) +1(haste) +3(studied) -4(power) -2(TWF)
Damage: 1d8 +6(str) +3(mag) +3(studied) +8(power) +2(w.o.a)
LH:
Attack +12 +6(str) +3(mag) +1(haste) +3(studied) -4(power) -2(TWF)
Damage 1d8 +6(str) +3(mag) +3(studied) +4(power) +2(w.o.a)
Criticals, 2 falcata hits:
Status:
AC 37
HP: 180/(168+12)
Mana: 64/73
Domain Mana: 14/21
Weapon of Awe (+2 dam, both weapons)
Geniekind (Shaitan) (+2 sv. vs paralysis, sleep, poison, stun; +4 enh to natural armor, +2 CON)
Vigor rounds remaining: 4
The spiders are mired in Ssilax’s slow spell, whatever ability they had allowed them to resist magic being cast at them seed to have little affect thanks to Ssilax’s training on how to bypass a foe’s natural or unnatural nature. Argon makes note of this fact and is able to keep himself out of harm’s way, as he makes his attack on the large spider in front of him and deals it a number of blows, the impact of his attacks is reduced by the chitin hide of the spider itself.
Daxniss’ spell strikes the spider in front of Argon, right before his attack and manages to get past it’s resistance as well, it would seem that these spiders where different than the ones in the courtyard, almost as if they were drawing their power from somewhere else. After Argon flurry of blows that would be breath taking by anyone but the party, he manages to take a step to the side, using the spider in front of him as stymie the rest of the spiders, even the small spider swarms are moving slowly as well as they had little chance of resisting the spell.
Argon: The spider in front of you is bleeding and where its blood hits the stone floor, it starts to sizzle, and a small spider that is made from acid starts to form from its blood. Argon has little chance to study it further as the spider’s maw rushes forward to bite him, its mandibles gleam in the dimly lit area.
To hit
Damage
Fort save VS poison DC 22
"These are not normal gargantuan spiders..." Argon says as he dances away from the bite. He is reminded of that island, Doldrom, where a whole bunch of much smaller spiders bit him all over.
Seeing the little one forming, he tries to chop it with his falcata once as he thrusts upward with his shield at the parent, followed by further falcata strikes if he can manage it. Before his final attack, he quickly (swift action) casts Forceful Strike.
RH:
Attack: +12 +6(str) +3(mag) +1(haste) +3(studied except on little guy) -4(power) -2(TWF)
Damage: 1d8 +6(str) +3(mag) +3(studied) +8(power) +2(w.o.a)
LH:
Attack +12 +6(str) +3(mag) +1(haste) +3(studied) -4(power) -2(TWF)
Damage 1d8 +6(str) +3(mag) +3(studied) +4(power) +2(w.o.a)
Note: Previous round shield damage should have been 1d3 instead of 1d8. My bad.
Status:
AC 37
HP: 180/(168+12)
Mana: 64/73
Domain Mana: 14/21
Weapon of Awe (+2 dam, both weapons)
Geniekind (Shaitan) (+2 sv. vs paralysis, sleep, poison, stun; +4 enh to natural armor, +2 CON)
Vigor rounds remaining: 3
"I certainly hope not," the dragonkin dryly responds. The sight of the small spider forming seemed to emphasize that point rather nicely. "If it is, I am never stepping into the woods again!" Ssilax chuckles.
The dragonkin begins a chant, looking at the sluggishly moving giant spiders. The Mask of Nethys that makes up his scaled face begins to glow as Ssilax draws from the divine source.
With a thought, Ssilax guides the spell over the magical arachnids. The crushing power of the mad god of magic smashes down upon the spiders like a moon falling from the sky.
Daxniss swears again and darts forward, shoving Argon to the side as she rolls forward and throws a Cone of the deepest frost of winter available, making sure to protect her friends and to deal the most amount of damage possible. Thankfully if there are going to be any survivors of people who were going to be used as food for the unnatural spiders whom are currently high enough on the spider webs that they will not be affected the spell is massive enough, not to mention that the spider swarms, the large spiders, and the acid spider that Argon knocks across the room with his spell.
Sslax makes note that the spider's seemed to take massive amount of damage from his holy smite, and Arogon's shield bashing damage, helped turn the tide, in fact it would be the damage from the Cone of Cold that Daxniss summoned forward, freezes the rest of the spiders into a sheet of ice, which shatters, the cold chunks of what remains allows no more acid spiders to form.
Ssilax makes note with his specticals upon his eyes, knows that there is only one person that alive, the humanoid web that is hanging on the ceiling informs him that the trapped person has a red huge to his aura.
Daxniss and Argon see a chest the is covered by webs in the north west side of the room, and both of them note that there is something rather odd about that chest. Ssilax can see that the red tinged aura of thee person in at single digit health markers, everyone else besides the party still has a green tinged aura, which he knows is still at full health.
"Someone, or thing, still lives," Ssilax says as he moves over to the figure entrapped by the thick webs. Before beginning to free whatever it was, the dragonkin prays for a moment.
Sending a little bit of healing energy to the bound figure to stabilize the worse of their wounds, Ssilax looks closely at the webs. Drawing a dagger, he plans out the best way to cut out the figure without cutting them.
"I wonder if the portal effected the spiders. Aside from their abilites and size, they seemed normal. But, I am hardly an expert in spiders," the dragonkin says to hid friends with a chuckle as he begins to cut.
As Ssilax starts to remove the victim from the spiders web everyone makes note of the room itself, it might have been a study or perhaps an waiting room for visitors or 'guests' for lack of a better word. What might have been a fully furnished room is torn asunder, webs of all shapes and sizes, bones, and cocooned forms all strewn about the room.
As Ssilax takes care of the being wrapped up in the spiders feasting hall is the only words that spring to the parties mind. After all, it isn't like the group knew more about spiders that may be tainted by something that is influenced by magics or perhaps, demonic in nature. Everything that those who have knowledge of magic and the planes and everything that inhabits the planes, it is hard to track down what sub type of creature it could be.
Shaking off thoughts of the possibility of what these things could be as there are too many possibilities of what would breed these types of spiders, all each of you can think is 'fiendish' as it would make the most sense of what would allow a spider to bring offspring through it's own blood.
Other than the only living thing that is left in the cocoon, is a chest that is locked, it is made out of solid metal, nothing special in the make but Daxniss is shaking her head at it, due to her training she pushes everyone out of the room, including the humanoid in the cocoon, thrusting everyone out of the room with the words " Look this is janky to say the least, I want all of you out of the room just to be safe. The amount of drek that is on that beauty worries me, even if this tower belongs to Master Dainoth, it would be best to make sure that no one is injured, since I have I the best chance to avoid whatever is on the chest itself " Daxniss says while moving everyone out of the room.
Once the room has been cleared, Daxniss starts to look around at the chest and hisses at the chest, and starts to fiddle with the floor leading up to the chest. After a tense 5 minutes of working on the traps, she snaps her fingers and the chest opens up. Revealing a number of gems and coins, other then that the chest is empty.
After the chest has been opened and coins and gems have been given to the entire party, the figure in that was wrapped up in the webs is shown to be an female elf, whom will recover with a spell or two, thanks to Ssilax and Argon, manage to purge the poison and tend to her wounds. The elf maiden, informs you that she leaves in a city hidden by the forest whom had stumbled onto the tower with a number of other adventures that had decided to clear out the spider infestation, this tower had not been in use for at least 100 years, the entire time that she had been alive for. In the last year there had been reports that something had brought the spiders, in their unnatural state.
The elf maiden says that her name is Quilallithmor, and that she had not wanted to go to the tower itself, but the adventurer party had paid for a guide, normally her village stayed away from those that had ventured into forest, since the elven city would rather stay in harmony with nature itself. The rest of the rooms that is on this floor of the tower remind all of you of more a study slash workshop for magical research, all of you can feel the pulse of unnatural magics emanating from the basement area.
Quilallithmor leaves the party wanting nothing to due with the tower or anything with it as well, since those that were offering payment, where no longer among the living and quickly flees offering nothing of value or information, all that she states is that she thanks all you for saving her life and gives a boon.
After she leaves, the area there is little point into attempting to question her since she knows anything of value, once the party reaches the magical research room that has a stairwell leading up stairs and also towards the basement, the draw of the portal brings all of you towards the basement.
After tending to the last of the elven maids injuries, Ssilax nods and smiles slightly when she says she is heading back to her home.
"Safe travels to your village, perhaps we might visit on our own way home," Ssilax says with a smile and a short bow.
For a few moments, the dragonkin watches as the elf heads off into the jungle. Turning to his friends, he points a claw at Dax.
"Next time we encounter a chest that your worried about, give me a heads up. I would rather use protective magics on you. As opposed to healing magics on you," the dragonkin says, looking a bit perturbed. Scaled visage softening, as much as it could, the dragonkin smiles. "And please wait for me to make sure whomever I'm treating is alright to be moved, before shoving us all out of the way."
"Now, let us go investigate this portal, it's energies are setting my scales on edge," the dragonkin looks at his friends to see that they (and Dog!) had weathered the spiders quite well indeed.
Argon thanks Daxniss for her trapfinding skills, and listens carefully to Quilallithmor as she tells her story. He is sorry to hear about her traveling companions, even though they were not exactly companions.
He's glad to be out of the cold, hot places being more to his liking. He starts heading down the stairs to the basement, cautiously and silently, in case there are more spiders or other nasties.
Daxniss nods at Ssilax and says " Aye, I was worried that thr traps would trigger and kill her, next time I'll make sure that the wounded are out first. " Dax finishes with chagrined tone.
The room that has a spiral staircase which leads to the upper floors as well as te lower floors, reminds all of you of a magical study room. Except for a simple fact that the shelves have no Tomes or papperwork on them, all of you come to the thought that Dainoth had left this place as empty as possible.
Argon feels a breath of air coming frpm the basement that holds brimstone as somehting from the abyass seems to have taken residence in the subterranean level of the tower.
"My concern was broken bones puncturing organs if that was a case. Just warn us next time," Ssilax says with a smile before they begin to travel downstairs. "And amazing job with the trapped chest, by the way."
With that said, the dragonkin follows behind the other two. Trying to be as quite as possible, Ssilax trys to pay attention to anything unusal sounding or looking.
As everyone in the group starts to head down the stairs they feel something is profoundly off about the subterranean level of the tower, as the descends everyone notices that the walls instead of the worked stone have now taken on a reddish hue. Everyone takes a moment to look at the stone steps and can see cracks are starting to form, not enough to make anyone worry about the stairs collapsing, just that the steps themselves seem to crack upon being stepped on.
Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs everyone can see thanks to the unnatural lights that the walls that were a crimson tinge are now weeping blood, the blood never pools on the ground, the stench of Brimstone has almost reached a choking point, Dog’s hackles are raised up and what everyone expects that a warm blast of stinking air, is now bringing the scent of the grave.
As the stairs and room change into some kind of more diabolic setting, Argon slows his pace even more. He keeps a careful eye out for anything unusual or dangerous. (each round a move action to move and a standard action to look around).
Argon notes that the area has changed as if another plane has started to corrupt the local area, as if the local area been tied to one of the planes of the abyss. It is disheartening to say the least, this sort of bleed effect shouldn't be possible, but what ever has corrupted the basement area, has been going on for a while, whatever has come from the portal seemed to have tweaked the magic and merged the plane from the portal into this basement. Ssilax makes note of this, and has an idea, if the group can kill whatever has changed the nature of this area, would possibly make the portal return to it's normal state.
The end of the steps lead to a room that is halfway transformed from stone to the abyss motif, what remains normal the cot ij the middle of the room, the bookshelves yhat have been smashed to pieces, and an open door. This room is a 30x30 room, 15x15 is normal stone the other half of the room leading out to the door is corrupted to say the least.
The stench of the Abyss was creeping into their home plane, even with his Necklace of Adaptation, he could smell it. He thinks about the corruption that is taking root and smiles slightly.
"I am fairly confident that when we correct this portal, the corruption should begin to fade. Something I plan on aiding with my magic," Ssilax says quietly to his friends. The dragonkin lays a golden scaled hand on Dog's head to reassure him.
Once the door and room have been searched for traps, the group carefully makes their way through thr basement area. Each part of the basement is distrubing, the stuff of nightmares, that lesser folk would have ran screaming from the building mad without any hope of returning to the realm of sanity. Fortunately everyone in the party is made of sterner stuff, ans everything that they had struggled through has given them reserves and the ability to shove horrors to the side and focus on making it past the visions of a realm corrupted by a hell.
After spending an hour walking through what would be a hell on qny mortal plane, the party stumbles across a door made from the flesh of animals and humans, everyone can feel the presence of the corrupting magic that is affecting this basement. Everyone has a moment to reflect that beyond this door, lies ths devil and the portal home.
"Is everyone ready? I have a few spells I am considering before we head in," Ssilax says quietly. The dragonkin looks around them at their surroundings.
The hour or so spent marching through this hellscape had been more than long enough.
Argon considers Ssilax's words. He's not sure he's ever ready to face a powerful foe that he knows nothing of. But his training, at least, may allow him a chance to study any foe and take advantage of its weaknesses.
For safety, he casts Ward Shield on his shield (4 mana). Then he casts Protection from Evil, Communal (2 mana), and touches all four of them including Dog. Finally, he casts Weapon of Awe on his Falcata (2 mana), which is still in its sheath.
"Ready" he says. "Ahead lies the way home. Is there anything I can do to help you with the .... correction?"
Protecting everyone from fire and acid, Ssilax thinks for a few moments before responding to Argon.
"I think consecration should speed up the removal of the taint. Admittedly, it mostly guess work at this point. I have read about this effect, but if usually takes longer to occur," Ssilax says quietly. "I am ready. "
With various protection from elements spells cast on the party thanks to Ssilax and Dax, with Ssilax using protection from fire and acid, Dax hits the rest of the group with cold and electricity, with that being the case Daxniss starts to search the door for traps.
Upon the door being checked for traps and locks, which it has none, Daxniss opens the door for the party and the now open door reveals a room that is made out of bones, blood, and corpses of all sorts of beings, none of them are humanoid. Peering into the room the group sees that this is a 100x50 room and a small pool of acid is in one corner of the room, a throne made from bones can be seen sitting in the center of the room on a raised dais can be seen behind the throne and a portal that is sitting open, it’s swirling energies reveal that this portal is currently attuned to one of the Hells. Creatures can be seen impaled on the portal itself.
Ssilax quickly releases that the beings impaled on the portal are tainting the portal and keeping it open to one of the Hells.
"There is also a chance it knows we are in the area," the dragonkin mentions quietly. "Divine casters tend to radiate the divine presence, just a little bit. Than again, it might not notice until we are closer."
"IT?"
Ssilax pauses from where he was examining the corrupted focal points and looks over at Argon.
"Well, we do not know anything an lb out what guards the portal, so "IT" would be the best term," Ssilax says as his sapphire orbs look over the chamber. A slight frown appears along his scaled muzzle.
Taking a moment, he cast a spell to see through invisibility spells and looks over the room once more.
"I am suspecting it is waiting to ambush us, or went through the portal for some reason or another," Ssilax mentions. The dragonkin had nonintentikns of being surprised while dismantling the magios that corrupted the portal.
As soon as Ssilax utters those words, the portal flares up and out walks a demon that much everyone is certain: This creature appears to be an 8-foot tall humanoid with basalt-colored skin. Dark hair covers its head and its hair is long and braided. Its arms are well-muscled and its hands end in powerful claws. Its head is human-like and its eyes are sapphire blue. Large leathery, bat-like wings protrude from its shoulders.
also something else emerges from the portal right after the first demon: This winged abomination is a horrid mix of demonic and angelic features, as if two bodies were carelessly fused into one. Its fanged, inhuman face is frozen in permanent contempt, while a beautiful visage with an expression of horror bulges from the back of its skull.
"Me and my big damn maw," Ssilax mutters with a sigh. He seemed to have a knack for speaking right at the worst possible moment. "I am beginning to think I am the harbinger of the obvious traps and ambushes," the dragonkin says dryly.
"It's like looking into a half a heartbeat into the future." A wry grin makes an appearance on the dragonkin's muzzle as his eyes never have left the two that walked out of the portal.
Argon looks at the larger creature, and asks it, "What do you want?"
He looks more closely to see how bodies are impaled on the portal. Is the door a gate, with vertical bars?
The two demons cock their heads at Argon's question and laugh, and the one on the left says " How cute like a puppy that has piddled on the floor, I wonder if their souls will be tasteful as well "
"I think you mean tasty. Our souls, unlike yours, are always tasteful," says Argon
Argon expects these creatures to attack, but he is hoping to find out a little more about them before that happens.
Ssilax: with you knowledge of the planes quickly figures out that the first demon is:
Rage Demon (Aeshma) CR 11
XP 12,800
CE Large outsider (chaotic, demon, evil, extraplanar)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., see invisibility; Perception +28
DEFENSE
AC 25, touch 13, flat-footed 21 (+4 Dex, +12 natural, –1 size)
hp 189 (14d10+112)
Fort +12; Ref +13; Will +14
DR 10/good; Immune electricity, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10, fire 10; SR 22
OFFENSE
Spd 40 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)
Melee +1 wounding spear +21/+16/+11 (2d6+10/19–20/x3 plus 1 bleed) or 2 claws +19 (1d6+6)
Ranged +1 wounding spear +19 (2d6+6/19–20/x3 plus 1 bleed)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks rage
Spell-like Abilities (CL 14th):
Constant—see invisibility
At will—dispel magic, greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), unholy blight (DC 17)
2/day—blasphemy (DC 20), web (DC 15)
1/day—summon (level 5, 1 aeshma 35% or 4d10 dretches 35%)
TACTICS
Aeshma are very potent fighters and prefer a straight fight to subterfuge. They fight aggressively against any foe, relying on their claws only if they are unarmed.
STATISTICS
Str 23, Dex 18, Con 27, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 17
Base Atk +14; CMB +21; CMD 35
Feats Blind-Fight, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Critical (spear), Iron Will, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (spear)
Skills Diplomacy +20, Escape Artist +18, Fly +23, Knowledge (arcana) +19, Perception +28, Spellcraft +16, Stealth +17, Survival +20; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Draconic; telepathy 100 ft.
Gear +1 wounding spear
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Rage (Ex)
An aeshma that takes 50% or more of its total hit points in damage in combat flies into a berserk rage on its next turn, swinging madly with its spear. A raging aeshma fights until either it or its opponent is dead. An enraged aeshma gains +4 Strength and –2 AC. The aeshma can end its rage voluntarily.
the second demon is:
Shachath Demon CR 11
XP 12,800
CE Medium outsider (chaotic, demon, evil, extraplanar)
Init +11; Senses all-around vision, darkvision 60 ft., detect good; Perception +27
DEFENSE
AC 25, touch 18, flat-footed 17 (+7 Dex, +1 dodge, +7 natural)
hp 148 (11d10+88)
Fort +11, Ref +14, Will +14
DR 10/cold iron or good; Immune electricity, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10, fire 10; SR 22
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (average)
Melee +1 longsword +19/+14/+9 (1d8+8/19–20), 2 claws +14 (1d4+3)
Special Attacks blasphemous influence, lingering doubt, merge with host
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 13th; concentration +18)
Constant—detect good, misdirection
At will—detect thoughts (DC 17), greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), telekinesis (DC 20)
3/day—chaos hammer (DC 19), desecrate, greater invisibility, major image (DC 18), suggestion (DC 18)
1/day—blasphemy (DC 22), scrying (DC 19), summon (level 4, 1 succubus or 1 incubus 65%)
1/week—unhallow (only one such effect can be active at a time)
STATISTICS
Str 25, Dex 25, Con 26, Int 18, Wis 20, Cha 21
Base Atk +11; CMB +18; CMD 36
Feats Combat Reflexes, Deceitful, Dodge, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills Bluff +23, Diplomacy +19, Disguise +14, Fly +21, Knowledge (planes) +16, Knowledge (religion) +16, Perception +27, Sense Motive +19, Sleight of Hand +18, Stealth +21, Use Magic Device +19; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic; telepathy 100 ft.
SQ change shape (Medium or Large humanoid; alter self), subtle magic, trophy taker
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Blasphemous Influence (Su)
A victim that falls under the effects of a shachath’s merge with host ability becomes chaotic evil. Divine spellcasters subject to a shachath’s merge with host ability temporarily lose connection with their faith, and now gain their divine powers from the Abyss or a demon lord the shachath serves. Though they can still cast the spells they had prepared, they cannot cast spells with the lawful or good descriptor. If the victim of a shachath’s merging had access to the Good domain, that access changes to the Evil domain. If the victim had access to the Law domain, that access changes to the Chaos domain. If the victim had access to a subdomain associated with the Good or Law domain, that subdomain changes to the Demon subdomain. These changes last as long as the shachath remains merged with the victim. Other domain choices are not adjusted. If the victim is rescued from the shachath’s influence and the merge ends without the victim’s death, the victim remains chaotic evil—this may result in the victim losing some or all class abilities. An atonement spell can restore the victim’s alignment at no additional cost, at which point lost class abilities are restored.
Lingering Doubt (Su)
Once per day, a shachath can use a touch attack to affect a creature with lingering doubt. The target must be able to cast divine spells, be able to channel positive energy, or have the lay on hands ability. If the target fails a DC 20 Will save, all augury, commune, divination, and similar spells cast by the target automatically fail. In addition, using divine spells and spell-like abilities, channeling positive energy, or using lay on hands has a 20% chance of failure. This curse is permanent, but can be removed normally. The target cannot detect the curse on itself, but other creatures may detect the curse normally. A shachath may use scrying on the cursed creature as if it knew the target well, and doing so requires only a full-round action. A shachath may only curse one creature at any given time. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Merge with Host (Su)
As a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity, a shachath can merge its body with that of a helpless creature and control it if the victim fails a DC 20 Will save. A creature that successfully saves is not subject to the same shachath’s merge with host ability for 24 hours. While merged with a victim, a shachath gains control of the body and may use it as its own, as if it controlled the target via dominate monster. Misdirection or similar effects can hide the victim’s alignment change. The shachath has full access to all of the host’s defensive and offensive abilities, and the shachath can still use its own spell-like abilities as well. As long as the shachath occupies the host, it knows (and can speak) the languages known by the victim and basic information about the victim’s identity and personality. It can learn specific memories or knowledge from the victim by telepathic communication as needed. Damage dealt to a host body does not harm the shachath, and if the host body is slain, the shachath emerges and is dazed for 1 round. A shachath can choose to abandon a host body as an immediate action, but doing so causes the host to be dazed for 1 round, and the shachath must wait 24 hours before attempting to use merge with host again on any target. A shachath can be ejected from a host through the use of break enchantment (against CL 13th), dispel chaos, or dispel evil. Merge with host is a mind-affecting possession effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Subtle Magic (Su)
Whenever a shachath targets a creature with a spell, spell-like ability, or supernatural ability, and that spell or ability has no obvious physical effects, the targeted creature has no sense of having been the target of a magical effect after making a successful saving throw against the effect. If the ability requires a touch attack but the target is unaware of being threatened, the shachath can attempt an opposed Bluff or Sleight of Hand check to touch the target without arousing suspicion or being noticed.
Trophy Taker (Su)
A shachath that takes a personal item from a prospective target can wield greater power over that creature. The item must be something that the target considers its own possession and carries with it most of the time (for example, a piece of jewelry, a favored weapon, a holy symbol, or some other memento). The shachath gains a +2 bonus to the saving throw DCs for all of its supernatural or spell-like abilities that target the owner of the trophy. This bonus increases to +4 if the trophy is the target’s holy symbol. A shachath can only have one trophy at any time, and it loses any benefit from an existing trophy if it takes a new one.
ECOLOGY
Environment any (Abyss)
Organization solitary, pair, or cabal (1 plus 1–2 succubi and 1–3 incubi)
Treasure standard (+1 longsword, other treasure)
A shachath’s duplicitous nature is reflected in its physical form. It is literally two-faced, and sees and speaks easily from either side of its skull. One face is angelic and the other horrific, but a shachath is a single being of pure malevolence. Shachaths are concerned with the destruction of mortal faith in anything, and are most often found in the service of Baphomet and Pazuzu. A typical shachath is 7-1/2 feet tall and weighs 320 pounds.
Shachaths are living embodiments of blasphemy. They form in the Abyss from truly blasphemous souls—those who actively work against true believers. Their merged forms can be inverted at their whims; at one moment, the demonic face might be carrying on a conversation, and in the next, with a folding of flesh and a cracking of bones, the shachath can bring its angelic face to the fore.
Shachaths that reside in the Abyss typically act as advisors and counselors to more powerful demons that seek their unique insight into good gods, outsiders, and the mortal condition itself. Others are skilled at interrogating and breaking good-aligned prisoners. On the Material Plane, shachaths dedicate their efforts toward the corruption of mortal faith. This can represent an attack upon a devout cleric or an entire community—or both, if they can manage.